For
Educators
Come explore with us! You and your students are invited to visit any one of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s four visitor sites: Barro Colorado Island, Punta Culebra Nature Center, Bocas del Toro Research Station and Punta Galeta Marine Laboratory. Discover the amazing plants and animals of the tropical rainforest, and learn about the science behind the scenes that is helping to reveal the many wonders of life in the tropics.
One goal at STRI is to inspire curiosity and wonder about the natural world through the lens of science. We offer school groups field trips to our nature center and research stations. Students learn about the wildlife in their own backyard through hands-on educational activities and guided tours. Our activities are designed to complement and reinforce the science education students are receiving in the classroom.
Professional Development Workshops
STRI offers professional development workshops that are taught by a team of scientists and science educators. The workshops are designed to provide an intensive science-rich experience for science teachers in Panama. Participating teachers engage in scientific practices that deepen their understanding of evolution, tropical ecology and biodiversity. They also learn practical ways to teach concepts and explore activities suitable for students at a variety of grade levels.
The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) offers annual professional development workshops taught by a team of scientists and science educators. The workshops are designed to provide an intensive science rich experience for pre-service and in-service science teachers in Panama. Participating teachers engage in scientific practices that deepen their understanding of evolution, tropical ecology and biodiversity. They also learn practical ways to teach concepts and explore activities suitable for students at a variety of grade levels.
Format
The one- to two-week workshops are organized around science themes, which vary each year. The format includes lectures by Smithsonian scientists and educators, visits to exhibitions and labs, and field trips. A workshop takes place at one of our four public outreach facilities.
Locations
Workshops take place in our facilities, including Punta Culebra Nature Center in Panama City, Punta Galeta Marine Laboratory in Colon, Barro Colorado in the Panama Canal and Bocas del Toro Research Station in Bocas del Toro province.
Meduca Accreditation and Standards
STRI is recognized as an official trainer by the Ministry of Education in Panama (MEDUCA). We link all our educational content to the standards of the formal education system, including the Panamanian National Curriculum and U.S. Next Generation Science Standards.
Contact
For information on workshops at our different facilities contact:
Bocas Research Station
Plinio Góndola
gondolap@si.edu
Punta Culebra Nature Center
Jimena Pitty
pittyjj@si.edu
Punta Galeta Marine Laboratory
Dr. Stanley Heckadon
heckados@si.edu
